Earnestine Lehi Obituary (1944 - 2021)

Earnestine Jake Lehi returned to her creator on March 6, 2021, surrounded and held by her family at the Mount Timpanogos Regional Hospital. In the months prior to her death, she was hospitalized due to COVID—she fought and overcame COVID and continued to fight valiantly to return home to her great-grandchildren. Ultimately, she succumbed to post-COVID related complications. Earnestine was born in Cedar City, Utah on February 25, 1944, to Carl and Minnie John Jake. She was an enrolled member of the Indian Peaks Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. She was the last surviving member of the original Jake children. Earnestine lived a vibrant and unapologetic life. She was a survivor of the termination era that send her band and people into a state of despair, and she saw a lot of her culture lost due to the prevailing political and social climate for Paiute people in Utah. As such, she became a steward of knowledge for her family and people. She was a teacher and lecturer. She reveled in teaching and passing on the Paiute culture to her relatives, other Paiute members, and to the public. She was a traditional dancer in the pow-wow circle; she tanned buckskin hides, made Paiute baby cradles, sewed and beaded frequently, sang round-dance songs, loved to travel to powwows, bear dances, and sun dance ceremonies, and told the most lively, hilarious, and engaging stories about her life, her history, and our people. Her most recent accomplishment was publishing a book that highlighted the Paiute language. She was the last fluent speaker of the Paiute language for the Indian Peaks Band, so in addition to losing our very best friend, the world has lost an irreplaceable cultural resource. In her later life, she settled into her role as Grandma Earnie. Everyone called her that, and she was a loving grandmother to everyone. She was an active member of the LDS Church and served as Relief Society President and Primary teacher at the Indian Branch for many years. She was selfless and went out of her way to make sure that people were fed, clothed, and housed. She did so many arts and crafts with her grand and great-grandchildren. She made the very best sugar cookies, tortillas, and beans. She loved to tend to her flowers and her giant goldfish. And, her laugh was full of joy, with a touch a crazy, and it was perfect. The sound of it will be missed. She is survived by her daughters Jeanine (Robert) Borchardt of Enoch, UT and Anthonia Jake of Cedar City, UT, many nieces and nephews, cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Minnie Jake, multiple ex-husbands, her siblings, Clifford Jake, Edwin Kanosh, Arthur Jake, Geneva Anderson, Melba Jake, Ralph Jake, John Jake Sr., Margaret Jake, Manell Jake, Jeanette Jake, Eudrine Kanosh, Shirley Bowman, Wilford Jake, and grandson Louis Borchardt. Due to COVID, the family will be postponing traditional, public ceremonies, so there will not be a traditional sing. A public viewing will be held on Sunday, March 14, 2021 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Masks and extreme social distancing is mandatory. Grandma would not want anyone to suffer in the same way that she did and neither does the family. A private, graveside service will be held on Monday, March 15 for family only, under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Earnestine Jake Lehi, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.